Massage device



April 8, 1936- J. J. MENDENHALL 2,039,180

MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1 955 E Z5 Z31 Patented Apr. 28, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a massage device.

The object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a device of the class referred to for cleansing the pores ofthe skin of foreign matter and to cause a circulation and reaction ofblood near the surface of the skin thereby providing one with diseaseresisting condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to for eliminatingwrinkles and imparting to the face a younger appearance and asatisfactory complexion.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a massage device of the suction or vacuum typefor action upon the face, limbs and body and whereby the degree ofsuction is regulated by the application of hand pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth a massage device for application to the skinincluding a unit formed of revoluble .resilient cylinder carrying valvecontrolled resilient suction or vacuum cups "having a valvular action asthe cylinder is rolled over the skin, and as the cylinder, as well asthe cups are resilient the unit, when active is applied to a greaterportion of a convex surface with relation to the skin.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a massage device including a unit formed of aresilient cylinder for rolling, during the application of pressurethereto, over the skin and with the cylinder provided with radiallydisposed resilient extended valve controlled suction or vacuum cupswhereby when the device is active and due to the resilientcharacteristic of the cylinder and cups, as well as the valvular actionwith respect to the cups, there is provided a quick and easy action ofpulling the blood to near the surface of the skin as well as cleansingthe pores of the skin of any foreign matter without discomfiture to theperson to which the device is applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a massage device which may be used by either handof an operator to reach any part of the body which is to be acted upon.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth a valved resilient revolu'ble unit so formed as toprovide rapid intermittent and alternating pressure and suction to thebody to quickly pull the blood to near the surface .and to removeforeign matter from the pores of the skin, thereby producing the same orbetter results than that obtained by massage devices employed for likepurposes and that obtained by the direct application of the fingers andfinger tips of professional masseurs.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a massage device for the purpose referred towhich is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable,compact, readily assembled, thoroughly efficient in its use,conveniently operated and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects as will hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and as isillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variationsand modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the device,

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View intop plan,

Figure 4 is a sectional detail of the resilient revoluble unit,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the form of combined end reinforcingand wheel element employed for the resilient unit,

Figure 6 is a perspective of the form of valved resilient suction orvacuum cups employed as a part of the resilient unit, and

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a modified suction or vacuum cup.

The device includes a revoluble resilient unit 8 formed of a resilientcylinder 9 provided with circular parallel rows of spaced radiallydisposed extended resilient suction or vacuum cups l0 having'their innerportions split, as at H to provide valves therefore. The inner portionof the splits I i are disposed parallel to the axis of cylinder 9. Thelatter and the cups l0 provide an integral structure formed from rubber.The cups ID are of greater resiliency than cylinder 10.

Each cup ll! with reference to Figure 4, includes an inner part I2, anintermediate part l3 and an outer part Hi. The part I? which extendsinwardly from the inner face of cylinder 9, includes a normally closedinner end l5, an open outer end l6 and is of semi-oval contour. The partI3 is of circular form, of uniform diameter and merges at its outer faceinto the body of cylinder 9. The part I4 is hollow and open at each end,is of flared contour, extends outwardly from the outer face of cylinder9 and has its body gradually increase in thickness from its inner to itsouter end, as indicated at H. The part I2 merges into the inner end ofpart I3. The outer end of part I3 merges into the inner end of part I4.The part I3 is of greater resiliency than part I5. The latter is ofgreater resiliency than the body of cylinder 9. The split I I is formedin part I3. The ends of split I I are positioned at the inner face ofcylinder 9. The split II extends throughout part I3.

The splits II provide normally closed valvular means for the cups I9 andopen on the application of pressure to the parts I4 to provide for theexhaust of air from the cups when the latter are compressed. When a cupis compressed, that portion of the body of cylinder 9 which borders thecup moves inwardly and provides for the expansion of the part I2 of thecup, to an extent for the edges of the split to move apart whereby theair is expelled or discharged from the cup into the cylinder.

There is associated with the cylinder 9 a revoluble carriage, which notonly causes the cylinder to revolve therewith, but also acts as means toprovide rigid reinforcement for each end of cylinder 9. The carriageincludes a pair of oppositely disposed wheel elements I8, I 9 formed ofrigid material and each consists of an inwardly opening channel shapedrim 29, a hub 2| and a series of spokes 22 integral with the inner edgeof rim 20 and outer face of hub 22. The wheels are revolubly mounted onan axle 23 adjacent the reduced threaded end portions 24 of the latter.Retaining nuts 25 are mounted on said end portions 24.

The device includes a handle structure 26 for imparting a rolling actionto the carriage and the application of pressure to the unit 8. Thepressure is hand pressure distributed through the handle structure uponthe axle 23 of the carriage. The handle structure consists of a yoke orbail 21 formed with a shank 28 upon which is mounted a handle member 29.The latter is clamped against the fork or bail 21 by a nut 30 carried byshank 28. The nut 30 is countersunk in and abuts the rear end of member29. The forward ends 3| of the arms of the yoke or bail are aperturedand are seated upon the end portions 24 of the axle 23. The rims of theyoke or bail are maintained in position by the nuts 24. The nuts 24 andends 3| prevent the wheels I8, I9 from slipping entirely off of the endsof the cylinder 9.

The modified form of suction or vacuum cup 32 shown in Figure 7 is ofthe same construction as the cups I9, with this exception that the innerportion of slit 33 in cup 32 is disposed at right angles to the axis ofthe cylinder 9. Otherwise than there is stated the cup 32 will be of thesame construction as the cups ID.

The rolling of the cylinder 9 over the body will cause the cups tocompress and extend, and on the extension of the cups the foreign matterwill be removed from the parts of the skin and the blood will be drawnto near the surface of the skin.

What I claim is:

1. In a massage device a revoluble resilient cylinder provided withpermanently open outer end and normally closed inner end suction cupsextending inwardly and outwardly with respect to the body of thecylinder, that portion of said cups x ending inwardly from said cylinderbeing provided with normally closed valvular means therefor.

2. In a massage device a revoluble resilient cylinder provided withpermanently open outer end and normally closed inner end suction cupsextending inwardly and outwardly with respect to the body of thecylinder, that portion of said cups extending inwardly from saidcylinder being provided with normally closed valvular means therefor,that portion of said cups extending outwardly from the body of thecylinder being flared.

3. In a massage device a revoluble resilient cylinder provided withpermanently open outer end and normally closed inner end suction cupsextending inwardly and outwardly with respect to the body of thecylinder, that portion of said cups extending inwardly from saidcylinder being provided with normally closed valvular means therefor,that portion of said cups extending outwardly from the body of thecylinder being flared, and having its body gradually increasing inthickness from its inner to its outer end.

4. In a massage device a revoluble resilient cylinder provided withpermanently open outer end and. normally closed inner end suction cupsextending inwardly and outwardly with respect to the body of thecylinder, that portion of said cups extending inwardly from saidcylinder being provided with normally closed valvular means therefor,that portion of said cups extending outwardly from the body of thecylinder being flared, and having its body gradually increasing inthickness from its inner to its outer end, and that portion of said cupsextending inwardly from the body of the cylinder having its body of lessthickness than the body of the portion of sdaid cups extending outwardlyfrom said cylin- 5. In a massage device a revoluble resilient cylinderprovided with permanently open outer end and normally closed inner endsuction cups extending inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bodyof the cylinder, that portion of said cups extending inwardly from saidcylinder being provided with normally closed valvular means therefor,that portion of said cups extending inwardly from the body of saidcylinder being of greater resiliency than that portion of said cupsExtending outwardly from the body of said cylin- 6. In a massage devicea revoluble resilient cylinder provided with permanently open outer endand normally closed inner end suction cups extending inwardly andoutwardly with respect to the body of the cylinder, that portion of saidcups extending inwardly from said cylinder being provided with normallyclosed valvular means therefor, a revoluble carriage having means at itsends for encompassing the ends of said cylinder and an axle extendingthrough said cylinder, and a handle structure for the carriage securedon said axle at spaced points thereof.

7. In a massage device a revoluble resilient cylinder provided withpermanently open outer end and normally closed inner end suction cupsextending inwardly and outwardly with respect to the body of thecylinder, that portion of said cups extending inwardly from saidcylinder being provided with normally closed valvular means therefor, acarriage for said cylinder, said carriage including revoluble elementsencompassing and reinforcing the ends of the cylinder, and a handlestructure attached to said carriage.

8. In a massage device a revoluble one-piece resilient unit consistingof a cylinder provided with rows of spaced suction cups extendinginwardly and outwardly with respect to the cylinder, each of said cupsbeing formed with a slit inwardly of said cylinder.

9. In a massage device a revoluble one-piece resilient unit consistingof a. cylinder provided with rows of spaced suction cups extendinginwardly and outwardly with respect to the cylinder, each of said cupsbeing formed with a slit inwardly of said cylinder, and a pressureapplied handle propelled carriage for revolving said unit, said carriageincluding spaced means for encompassing and reinforcing the ends of thecylinder.

10. In a massage device, a. revoluble one-piece resilient unitconsisting of a cylinder provided with rows of spaced suction cupsextending inwardly and outwardly with respect to the cylinder, each ofsaid cups being formed with a slit inwardly of said cylinder, and a handpressure applied handle propelled carriage for revolving said unit, saidcarriage including a pair of revolubly mounted spaced wheels formed withinwardly opening channel shaped rims, the ends of said cylinderextending into said rims whereby the unit is connected to the carriage,and said ends reinforced.

JOHN J. MENDENHALL.

